Burglar alarm system



May 14, 1968 H. 1. soLTAu ET Al. 3,383,674

BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM #6h/2r J.' Sura@ BY fau/@P0 kan? May M, 1968 H. .1.SOLTAU ET AL 3,383,674

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INVENTORS #FA/Ey J. $04744/ BY www a Verbal? Smm.

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BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 29, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5. 3% .E12-E2S INV/Nm/s flea/ky .I $04740 in" fau/Me Minas/P 2 rro ll-gb E 25 l /3United States Patent O 3,383,674 BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Henry J. Soltau,4020 Stinson Blvd. NE. 55421, and Edward Werder, 4639 France Ave. N.55422, both of Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed July 29, 1965, Ser. No. 475,788 1 Claim. (Cl. 340-276) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLSURE This invention relates to improvement in a burglaru alarmsystem.

It is an object of this invention to provide a very simple alarm systemhaving control means remote from and independent of the means used toenergize and actuate the alarm means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an alarm systemembodying the use of portable control means which may be variouslypositioned.

More specically, it is an object of this invention to provide arelatively small housing containing the triggering and energizingelements of the alarm system, said housing being arranged to be readilyremovably connected to a source of current.

It is also an object of the invention herein to provide low voltagealarm elements.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. l is a view in perspective of the housing in connection with theinvention herein;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l asindicated;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to that of FIG. 2 showing a modication thereofwith a detail thereof being shown in alternate position in dotted line;

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with someportions of the apparatus in broken view being shown in connectiontherewith;

FIG. 5 is a broken view in vertical section taken on line 5--5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a broken view in vertical section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5as indicated; and

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 3 with someportions of the apparatus being shown in connection therewith.

With reference to FIGS. l, 2 and 4-6, a preferred embodiment of theinvention herein is shown.

A housing l0 is provided comprising a base plate 12 substantiallyrectangular in plan having a small depending ice peripheral flange i3and an upstanding cover 14 substantially parallelepiped in form havingan open bottom to receive said base plate with said cover being adaptedin a manner known in the art to irictionally engage said ilange portionof said base plate.

Mounted as by screws onto said base plate is a solenoid of known designhere adapted to operate on a voltage such as of 24 volts and carrying aplunger t6 biased to extended position by the coil spring 17 carriedthereon and bearing against a collar t8 on the adjacent side wall 15a ofsaid solenoid. Said plunger has a reduced terminal portion 16a.

Upstanding from said base plate l2 in spaced facing relation and shownhere as being of inverted T-shape in cross section are a pair ofidentical support and contact members 22 and 22. Comprising said member22 is its base portion 25 suitably secured as by screws to said baseplate l2 and its upstanding wall portion 27, said wall portion beingdisposed in a p'lane at right angles to the plane of the adjacent sideof said solenoid. Said wall portion has extending substantiallycentrally transversely therethrough an aperture 2S here indicated asbeing circular in cross section.

Carried on said wall and extending therethrough at either side of saidaperture are electrical contacts and 31 respectively comprisingconductive bolts 36a and 31a threaded into plate-like conducting nuts30h and Sib, as shown.

Said member 22 has portions corresponding to those of said member 22indicated by like characters with a prime added. The respectiveapertures 23 and 2S are in axial alignment.

Carried between said support members 22 and 22 and having axial movementthrough said apertures 28 and 28 is a cylindrical rod 35 forming a dropswitch member and is hereinafter referred to as a switch member. Saidswitch member 35 is of sufiicient length to have its end portion 35aextend outwardly of the adjacent end wall 14a of said cover 14 throughthe aperture 14h therein.

Carried on said switch member 35 are electrical contacts shown asconductive coil springs 38 and 39. Pins 40 and 4l are disposed throughsaid switch member 35 to retain said springs in a spaced relation. Saidpins serve as stop members `for the adjacent ends of said springs. Saidswitch member is positioned to be engaged by the free end portion of theplunger lo and is adapted to be retained in a given axial position bysaid plunger by means of a suitably positioned recess 35i) therein hereshown as an annular groove. Said recess 35h is so positioned axially ofsaid switch member 35 that when said plunger is received within saidrecess, said coil spring 38 will bear against and connect said contacts30 and 3l. With said switch member 35 so positioned, said coil spring 39will be free of engagement with said contacts 30 and 3l'. When saidplunger is withdrawn by said solenoid, said switch member will moveaxially to break contact with the contacts 30 and 3l and in thealternate engage the contacts 30' and 31.

The `alarm lor signal means used may take on various forms. Withreference to FIG. 4, a bell alarm 46 and a lighting means 48 `are shownbeing used in connection with the embodiment of the invention herepresented. Said -bell alarm tis shown provided with la switch 46a.

An actuating switch 43- is shown located in the jam-b 44 of a door frame45. Said switch is here shown com- Patented May I4, 1968 prising aspring biased button 43a. which will engage the hinged edge of a doorand will close the switch when the door is opened. A door 47 isindicated. Said switch includes electrical contacts 43]) and 43C.

Circuits With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a supply circuit 5@is provided comprising lines 51 and 52 respectively running to thecontacts 2de and 20d of said transformer 20. Said supply circuitterminates in a connector in the form of fa plug 56 which may beconnected readily to a convenient receptacle in communication with asource or supply of current.

Running from said transformer 20 is an alarm triggering circuit 60comprising lines 61 and 62. Said iine 61 runs yfrom contact 20b of saidtransformer to the contact b `of said solenoid 15 and -line 63 runs fromthe contact 15e of said solenoid to the contact 31a. of said supportmember 22. A line 64 runs Vfrom the contact 30a of said support member22 to the contact 43b of the switch 43, and running from the contact 43Cthereof to the contact a of said transformer is said line 62. Said lines62 and 64 are shown embodying the use of a separa-ble connector 65.Completing the triggering circuit is the coil spring 38 carried on saidswitch member 35, which spring connects the contacts 30h 'and 31b whichare integral with the contacts 30u and 31a respectively.

A third circuit of the invention herein comprises an alarm circuit 70; Aline '71 runs from the contact 20d of the trans-former 2t) taking offfrom the line 52 to the contact Sda of said support member 22. A line'i2 runs from the contact 31a of said support member 22 to a separableconnector '73 with a line 75 running Ifrom the other side of saidconnector to the contact 20c of said transformer and in circuit withsaid supply line 51.

The coil spring .39 when moved into operating position as will bedescribed, will connect the contacts 30b and 31b to close the alarmcircuit.

The alarm or signal means 46 and 48 are indicated as comprising a signalcircuit S0 which includes the necessary wiring running to the connector73 for removable connection with the alarm circuit 70. The details ofsuch a circuit as circuit Si) are well understood and furtherdescription is not believed necessary.

It will be understood that where lines pass through the housing 10 thatappropriate insulating grommets 85 will be used to protect said lines.

lt is seen that the portions of the circuits contained within saidhousing 10 are provided with connectors lfor readily detachableconnection with the detection switch and its immediate wiring and withsaid signal circuit 80 and with a source or supply of current.

Opeation The alarm system comprising the invention herein is arranged tobe triggered or energized by the opening of a door or window as in labuilding or by the opening of a door as of a safe, of a vehicle or othertype of enclosure.

The housing 10 contains the major elements operating the alarm systemand is portable and adapted to be removably connected to a source -ofcurrent, to a detection switch such las switch 43 located in la doorjamb and to a signal means such as the audible alarm 46 and visualsignal 48. Hence with the switch wired with an appropriate connectoryand the signal means wired with appropriate connectors, the arrangementmay be adapted very readily -for the housing to be plugged into theswitch and signal circuits at various places.

The apparatus within the housing 10 is here shown connected to theswitch 43, the signal circuit 80 and to ya source of current. With thedetection switch 43 closed by the opening of a door, the triggeringcircuit 60 will be closed energizing the solenoid 15 to retract theplunger 16 from its normally extended position. With the plunger 16retracted, the member 35 will be urged by the spring 38 or it Imay lfallby gravity in the direction of the member 22 for engagement between thespring 39 and the contacts 30-b and 31'b. The member 35 bearing again-stthe coil spring 39 will provide good contact between said spring andsaid contacts. With the alarm circuit 7i) thus being closed, the signalcircuit will become energized actuating the signal means.

It is seen that the alarm circuit is independent of the triggeringcircuit once it has become energized and the signal means will operateuntil the member 35 is manually reset to its inoperative positionrelative to the alarm circuit with the coil spring 38 in engagement withthe contacts 30h and 31h. It is retained in this position by the plunger16. It will be understood that while retained in this non-operativeposition, the switch 43 must be in inoperative or in open positioneither by use of a switch such as a toggle switch or the entrance ordoor must be closed. During non-use hours, if desired, the plug 56 maybe disconnected from the current supply source. In FIG. 4, the member 35is shown in inoperative position relative to the alarm circuit 70, andin FIG. 2 said member is shown in operative position closing said alarmcircuit.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, a modification of theinvention herein is shown in which portions identical with those of theprevious embodiment described will bear like numerals for identificationand will not be further described. The new or modified portions presentir. this embodiment are hereinafter described.

The changes in the moditied structure consist of the use of a secondtransformer in parallel With said transformer 20 by means of the lines91 and 92 and is provided to reduce the voltage through the alarmcircuit to 24 volts as here indicated. A line 93 runs from said trans`former 95 to the Contact 30a. The line 72 runs from the contact 31a tothe alarm means indicated by the numeral 98 and said means are adaptedto operate with said reduced voltage. The line 96 provides the returnfrom the alarm means to said transformer 95.

In all other respects the modilied structure operates in the same manneras the embodiment first above described.

Thu-s it is seen that we have provided an efiicient simply constructedand simply installed burglar alarm system for operation with both fullline voltage and reduced voltage and wherein the alarm system onceactuated is independent of the alarm triggering or actuating means.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An alarm system of the type indicated having in combination,

detection means,

electrically operated signal means,

a normally open triggering circuit including said detection means,

a normally open alarm circuit including said signal means,

a housing,

a `solenoid in said housing included in said triggering circuit, aplunger carriedby said solenoid spring biased to extended position,

a lpair of conductive upstanding support members spaced apart adjacentsaid solenoid, said support members having a pair of aligned apertures,

one of said support members being included in said triggering circuit,the other of `said support members being included in said alarm circuit,

a circuit closing member carried by said support members movable axiallytherebetween, said circuit closing member comprising a rod slidablydisposed through said apertures,

a pair of spaced electrical contacts carried by said rod,

said rod having a, recess therein to receive the extended end portion ofsaid plunger, said recess being positioned on said rod that when engagedby said plunger, said first one of said contacts is in circuit with saidtriggering circuit, and

said rod being axially self movable for engagement of said otherIcontact to be in circuit with said alarm circuit when said plunger iswithdrawn from said recess.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 942,964 12/1909` Jurnick 348-2761,066,731 7/1913 Jaynes.

FOREIGN PATENTS 435,973 10/1935 Great Britain.

JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner. 10 THOMAS B. HABECKER, Examiner.

D. L. TRAFTON, Assistant Examiner.

